Editing Elvis and Me (section)

===The '68 Comeback Special to the end===
Free to shape his own career, after the [[MGM]] [[motion picture]] contract expired in 1968, although still required to complete two more films, Presley accepted an offer from the [[NBC]] network to do a [[television special]]. NBC executives offered "open development,” along with a young director named [[Steve Binder]], who was receptive to presenting Presley in a way that he could be himself. ''[[Elvis (1968 TV program)|Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special]]'' was an enormous success, being the highest-rated television special of the year, and his closing song, titled, “[[If I Can Dream]],” became his first million-selling record in several years.

The television special motivated Elvis, and he began recording at the [[American Sound Studios]] in Memphis, Tennessee, which was owned by [[Chips Moman]]. Filled with new energy, he recorded so many songs that [[RCA Records]] needed a year and a half to release them all. Included in these sessions were hits such as "[[Suspicious Minds]],” which went to number one on the [[Billboard Charts]], along with "[[In the Ghetto]]" and "[[Kentucky Rain]]." He was signed on to perform, for a month, at the then-new and just-completed [[Las Vegas Hilton|International Hotel]] in [[Las Vegas]]. Every show was sold out, with thousands being turned away at the door. This success led to a five-year contract for appearances, twice a year, with the largest fee ever paid to any singer in history. Unfortunately, his renewed popularity brought a large increase in the number of death threats, requiring a significant increase in personal security.

After years of personal unhappiness, due to the state of his career, for a time, his triumphant return to a live stage brought new vitality to their marriage. However, the renewed stardom, with regular touring around the United States and appearances in Las Vegas, meant he was away from his family more, and his pattern of infidelity returned. When Elvis suggested Priscilla cut back on her visits to see him, it only added to her anxieties.  Things grew worse, when she returned to their Palm Springs home and found a number of letters from girls showing they had obviously been there.

Priscilla Presley admits she had two affairs of her own, and by 1972, the tumultuous marriage was irreparably broken down.  The last straw, for Priscilla, came when Elvis, possibly having learned of the second affair with her karate instructor, [[Mike Stone (karate)|Mike Stone]], had rough sex with her in his Las Vegas hotel room, telling her, "This is how a real man makes love to a woman." Also, during this time, Elvis considered hiring a [[hit man]] to kill Stone, but ultimately did not follow through with the idea. 

Separated on February 23, 1972, the Presleys divorced, amicably, on October 9, 1973, mutually agreeing to share custody of their daughter, Lisa Marie. Elvis had made another televised special, called ''[[Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii]],'' in January 1973, but after not seeing him for several months, prior to the actual court hearing, Priscilla was bewildered by his physical appearance.  She remarked on how swollen his hands were, when she held them in hers. Less than four years later, Elvis died. After his death, his father, Vernon, agreed to have Elvis's body reburied, to deter thieves.